That’s Honorable to You, Bub.

A day ago, he was just John Spencer, former mayor of Yonkers. Today, though, the U.S. Senate hopeful has added “The Honorable” to his name, as in “The Honorable John Spencer,” as he signed a news release that included a request for money.

Spencer also changed the name that attaches to his e-mail address, so he shows up in e-mail inboxes that way, too.

And he can do it. While titles are a bigger deal in, say, England,Â “The Hon.” as it usually appears can be used by most public officials in the U.S. If you want to know more, one detailed explanation by editor/author/critic H.L. MenckenÂ can be found atÂ AOL’s Bartleby.